About Rae Spriggs

PhD Candidate at Columbia University (current role)

Rae Spriggs (she/her) is a fourth-year Environmental Health Sciences doctoral candidate at Columbia Mailman School of Public Health. Her research sits at the intersection of extreme climate exposures, social vulnerability (racial and ethnic composition, historical environmental injustice, and economic disadvantage), and mental health outcomes. She works under the mentorship of Dr. Robbie M. Parks and Dr. Annie Nigra.

Her previous project with Dr. Nigra explores and characterizes multiple environmental exposures (drinking water quality, extreme heat, air pollution, etc.) impacting U.S. correctional facilities. Manuscript in progress!

Her dissertation research with Dr. Parks is evaluating spatiotemporal trends and disparities in mental health-related mortality, as well as the association with extreme climate exposures such as tropical cyclones. Manuscript(s) in progress – stay tuned!

Expected completion of the PhD in Spring 2027.

Educational background

Environmental Health Sciences MPH - University of California, Los Angeles (2019)
BA in Public Health - University of California, Berkeley (2016)

Previous professional appointments

Manager of Climate Action Research - UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation (2022)
Associate Director - UCLA Center for Diverse Leadership in Science (2019-2022)
Climate and Equity Researcher - The Environment Initiatives Hub at the Nonprofit Institute (2018-2019)
Graduate Student Researcher - Health Impact Assessment Group at the UCLA School of Public Health (2017-2018)
Climate Change and Health Equity Research Assistant - San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency (2017)
Alumni Outreach Coordinator - FACES for the Future (2016-2017)

Selected publications / products

Stewart-Ruano, A., Spriggs, R., Lawrance, E.L. et al. A Critical Gap in Addressing Mental Health in Heat-Health Action Plans Worldwide. Curr Envir Health Rpt 12, 23 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40572-025-00486-7
Tuholske, C., Lynch, V.D., Spriggs, R. et al. Hazardous heat exposure among incarcerated people in the United States. Nat Sustain 7, 394–398 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-024-01293-y
Hoague, D., Jones, M., Spriggs, R., Wong, M., Johnson, F., Catalan, E., Shin, M., Watkins, T., & Norris, K. (2023). Facilitating equitable distribution of JUSTICE40 initiative funding for lead in drinking water. Environmental Justice. https://doi.org/10.1089/env.2022.0040
Callahan, C., Dunlap, L., Gallarza, M., Spriggs, R., Turner, V. K. (2023). Protecting Californians with Heat-Resilient Schools. UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation Policy Brief.
Jones, M., Hoague, D., Spriggs, R., Catalan, E., Adams, N., Watkins, T., Tripati, A., & Norris, K. C. (2022). Establishing a framework for Sustainable Community Action Research. Ethnicity & Disease, 32(4), 333–340. https://doi.org/10.18865/ed.32.4.333
Callahan, C., Dunlap, L., Spriggs, R., Turner, V. K. (2022). Protecting Californians from Deadly Heat. UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation Policy Brief.
Gallarza, M., Spriggs, R., Callahan, C., Turner, V. K. (2022). Protecting Californians with Heat-Resilient Homes. UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation Policy Brief.
Cole, B. L., Macleod, K. E., & Spriggs, R. (2019). Health Impact Assessment of Transportation Projects and Policies: Living Up to Aims of Advancing Population Health and Health Equity? Annual Review of Public Health, 40(1), 305–318. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-publhealth-040617-013836

Fun facts

I have three beautiful nephews. They are my favorite humans, hands down.
I am originally from San Diego, CA, home of the superior weather. I can’t wait to move back west!
I want to visit all seven continents. 4 down, 3 to go!
I like writing, checking out standup comedy, and singing karaoke in my spare time.
I am still friends with my third grade teacher. Love you, Ms. Pinkard.
I am co-organizing an Urban Health Dialogue Series with a couple EHS peers at Columbia.